Written questions by Wood.

Whether he considered preparing a business case for the refurbishment of the media room in 9 Downing Street.

A business case was not required.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49754 on Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, whether the post-legislative review of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 has concluded.

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Lobbying Act 2014 was undertaken by the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and has concluded. Their report, Lobbying and Influence, was published on Parliament's website here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/44541/documents/221331/default/

Whether the M6364 Media and Creative Framework Preliminary Market Engagement will include expenditure on (a) branded goods and (b) external public relations.

During the Preliminary Market Engagement phase for RM6364 Media and Creative Framework, no expenditure was incurred by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) on branded goods or external public relations. The bidding process for RM6364 commenced on 29 May 2025, inviting suppliers to submit applications for inclusion. Branded goods are out of scope for this procurement. The framework includes provision for the procurement of external public relations services, such as implementation of PR initiatives, both online and offline, independently or in collaboration with other suppliers and message formulation and articulation. However, it does not guarantee any committed spend. Usage of the framework, including decisions on spend, remains at the discretion of individual public sector organisations, including central government departments.

What information the Crown Commercial Service holds on the number of companies that have expressed an interest in joining the RM6364 Media and Creative Framework Preliminary Market Engagement, published in April 2025.

180 companies expressed their interest in participating in the RM6364 Media and Creative Framework as part of the Preliminary Market Engagement.

What propriety and probity checks are undertaken on people proposed for honours.

I can advise him that there have been no changes to the guidance or policies that were in place under the previous government. Honours committee members have no formal role in identifying people to receive honours. Members play a role in supporting Government departments to build pipelines of possible future nominees in their area of expertise. Further information on probity checks is available on gov.uk.

Whether he plans to merge the chair roles of Cabinet Office advisory non-departmental public bodies.

The Cabinet Office sponsors 6 different advisory non departmental public bodies, each with their own Chair. A cross government Arms Length Body landscape review was commissioned in April and is ongoing.

Whether members of honours committees have a role in identifying people to receive honours.

I can advise him that there have been no changes to the guidance or policies that were in place under the previous government. Honours committee members have no formal role in identifying people to receive honours. Members play a role in supporting Government departments to build pipelines of possible future nominees in their area of expertise. Further information on probity checks is available on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51159 on Civil Servants: Remote Working, whether his Department collects workforce attendance data for buildings other than headquarters.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer given to HC51159. As was the case under the previous administration, the Cabinet Office collects data for departmental HQ attendance only. No other information on occupancy data or workforce attendance is gathered centrally. Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

Whether his Department has had discussions with the Public and Commercial Services Union on the industrial action relating to outsourced staff at (a) OCS, (b) ISS and (c) G4S.

The Cabinet Office meets regularly with Civil Service trade unions to discuss a variety of subjects. As is longstanding practice, the Government does not provide an ongoing commentary on industrial disputes.

With reference to the Cabinet Office press release entitled Thousands of Civil Service roles moved out of London in latest reform to the state, published on 14 May 2025, whether civil servants who are relocated outside of London will receive resettlement payments.

The majority of roles moved from London will occur through natural churn. Departments have delegated responsibility for managing relocations in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code. Civil Servants can voluntarily relocate in line with their department’s relocation policy.

If he will make an estimate of the attendance of civil servants in his Department as a proportion of assigned workforce to each building.

Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments, Office for Scotland, Office for Wales and Northern Ireland Office. This includes data for the Cabinet Office. As was the case under the previous administration, no other information on workforce attendance is gathered centrally. Heads of department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 50220 on Admiralty House, how much the council tax is for the two unoccupied flats in Admiralty House in 2025-26.

Admiralty House residences are valued in Council Tax Band H.

Whether the cost of domestic flights undertaken by the Prime Minister set out in the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/05760 included carbon offsetting.

The flights in-scope of FOI2025/05760 were not carbon offset. This is in line with the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49766 on Cabinet Office: Staff, for what reason the EU Relations Secretariat appears in the February 2025 dataset but not in the May 2025 dataset.

A transitional data processing error caused EURS staff to appear temporarily under ’NULL’ in the May 2025 dataset following structural changes in Cabinet Office systems.This has since been rectified. These staff are identifiable by their ‘EURS’ position ID.

Who is responsible for paying for the (a) internet broadband, (b) wi-fi and (c) telephone lines for the Ministerial residences of (i) 10 Downing Street, (ii) 11 Downing Street, (iii) Admiralty House, (iv) Dorneywood and (v) Chequers.

The maintenance of 10 and 11 Downing Street is managed by the Cabinet Office with costs accrued in the usual way.The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way.The maintenance of Dorneywood and Chequers is managed by the Dorneywood and Chequers Trusts respectively, with costs accrued in the usual way.

Whether the Prime Minister met with any of the candidates shortlisted for the Cabinet Secretary position before the appointment.

The Cabinet Secretary was appointed through a fair and open competition, in line with longstanding process.

What information his Department holds on the (a) cost to the public purse, (b) number and (c) designs for lanyards bought by (i) 10 Downing Street, (ii) the Office for Women and Equalities, (iii) the Civil Service People Group, (iv) the Crown Commercial Service and (v) the Cabinet Office since 4 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office has purchased a total of 6,376 lanyards for £5,069.99 since 4 July 2024. This includes those bought for the aforementioned business units and Crown Commercial Service as an executive agency.On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced the ban on unnecessary branded merchandise. Whilst it was agreed that some expenditure on merchandise items is necessary for operational purposes (security lanyards), all of these orders were made prior to the ban on unnecessary branded merchandise.In comparison, the Cabinet Office purchased a total of over 18,000 lanyards for £17,322.76 in the 12 months to July 2024.Staff will continue to be able to wear existing lanyards.

What guidance the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) the Government Car Service have issued to Ministers on the provision of official cars for travel inside London.

The arrangements relating to the usage of vehicles in the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Whether non-executive board members have to declare (a) past and (b) current membership of a political party; and what guidance he has issued to Departments on that subject.

Guidance on the declaration of interest process for Non-Executive Board Members, including political activity, was updated and published on 28 November 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-executive-board-member-declaration-of-interests-process/non-executive-board-member-declaration-of-interests-process#context The Governance Code on Public appointments makes clear that political activity should not affect any judgement of merit nor be a bar to appointment for a candidate being considered for a public appointment. The Governance Code already requires, for successful candidates, public disclosure where candidates, in the last five years, have been employed by a political party, held a significant office in a party, have stood as a candidate for a party in an election, have publicly spoken on behalf of a political party, or have made significant donations or loans to a party.

If he will publish the response to the Freedom of Information Act request reference FOI2025/05759, dated 16 May 2025.

The Honours Committee handbook released through this request is a version from January 2023 which is currently being updated. An updated version will be laid in the House Library as soon as is practicable.